Dusting machine



DUSTING MACHINE Filed July 11, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS .Clarence 'T. Rasmussen March 5, 1945. c. T.IRAsM'UssEN ET AL 2,370,914

DUS'ING MACHINE INVENTORS Clarence T. Rasmussen A* BY r obe Grif| v e ma@ March 5, 1945- c. T. RSMUSSEN ET AL 2570,914

DUSTING MACHINE Filed July 11j, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Mar. 6, 1945 2,370,914 nUsfrlNG MACHINE Clarence T. Rasmussen, Moline, and Robert Gri, Bock Island, Ill., assignors to Deere da Company, Moline, Ill., a corporation of Illinois 29 Claims.

The present invention relates to agricultural implements and is more particularly concerned with that class of implements known as crop clusters which are used to distribute nely divided insecticide or fungicide powder over the growing crop to control pests and crop disease. The principal object o our invention is to providea new and improved crop duster having great flexibility to meet a wide range of field conditions and to allow the implement to be used in the treatment of a wide variety of crops, particularly those crops grown in rows. One of the features of the invention lies in the novel arrangement and Iconstruction of the distributing conduit and supporting structure therefor which provides the maximum range of row width spacing and nozzle height adjustment,` and which also enables the laterally extending pipes to be folded up cut of the Way for storage or when the implement is in transit to and from the eld.

A further object of our invention is the provision of a novel arrangement for mounting the blower fan and main duct on the supporting frame permitting tension adjustment of the fan driving belt without the use of idler pulleys.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of novel means for raising and lowering the Outrigger distributing pipes, and for holding the pipes firmly against vertical oscillation when they are down in operating position.

Still'another object relates to the provision of improved means for interrupting the ow of material from the feed hopper into the distributing conduit. Further, in this connection, it is one of the objects.of this invention to provide an vimproved feed control mechanism which is actuated by the outrigger elevating mechanism so that the iiow of material from the hopper is automatically interrupted when the outriggers are raised to transport position.

Other objects and advantages of our invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art after consideration of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment thereof, reference being had to the accompanying draw; ings, in which Figure 1 is a top plan view of a tractor mounted crop duster embodying the features of our invention;

Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the same;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the same, with the near traction wheel removed toshow more clearly certain details of construction;

Application July 11, 1941, Serial No. 402,038

vsectionthrough the feed mechanism and blower fan;

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken along the line 8-8 in Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken along the line 9 5 in Figure 7;

Figure 10 is a horizontal section taken along the line Ill-Illia Figure 9; and

Figure l1 is a fragmentary view showing one of the outer pivoted conduit sections.

, Referring now to the drawings, the duster is mounted on the rear end 0f a tractor I5 having a body -II supported on rear traction wheels |1. The wheels I1 are mounted on axles I8 which are journaled in laterally extending axle housings I9. A pair of laterally spaced implement mountingA bosses 20 having threaded bolt holes formed therein,` are provided on the rear of the axle housings I9, and bolted to these bosses at 2| are vertical angle irons 2i. and 23, on which the implement is carried.

The crop duster, in general, comprises a main supporting frame 24 which carries a Yblower fan 2'5 and feeding mechanism 26, including a hopper 21 for holding the dusting powder. Pivotally connected to the main frame 24 for vertical swinging movement is a second supporting frame 30 which carries the conduit system 3| distributing vthe dust-laden air from the blower fan 25 to a plurality of laterally spaced nozzle pipes 32.

The main supporting frame 24 consists of a pair of laterally spaced, fore and aft extending angle irons 33 and 34 which are fixed at their front ends to the upper ends of the members 22, 23, respectively. Cross members 35, 36, and 31 are fixed to the members 33, 34 to form a platform on which the blower fan and feeding mechanism are mounted. The main frame 24 is braced to support the load carried thereon by a pair of bracing members 40 and 4I xed to the angle irons 33, 34 adjacent the ends of the cross bar 36 and extending downwardly and forwardly therefrom in converging relation. The bracing members 40, 4| are bolted at 42 to opposite sides of the draft frame 43 of the tractor.

'I'he feeding mechanism 26 and hopper 21 are Figure 41s an enlarged top planview of one of 55 disposed toward the right hand side of the frame 24 and are mounted on top of a supporting stand 'or platform comprising a pair of laterally spaced ported on a base which forms a part of a bridge casting 52 extending between the horizontal portions 46 of members 44, 45 and bolted thereto at 53. Fixed to the bottom of the hopper' 21 is a ring 54 which is adapted to be secured to the base 5| in any suitable manner as, for example, swivel bolts 55 swingably connected to the base and having wing nuts 56 engageable with slotted lugs 60 on the hopper ring. The base casting 52 is provided with a vertical bore within which is journaled a shaft 6| having a squared upper end 62 and a bevel gear 63 xed to the lower end thereof. The shaft 6| is driven by mechanism which will be described in detail presently, and mounted on the upper end of the shaft to rotate therewith is a feed plate 64 having a central hub 65 which is provided with a socket the opening of which is square in cross section so as to receive the squared end 62 of the shaft. The dusting material carried within the hopper 21 rests upon the feed plate 64, and as the plate rotates, part of the dusting material rotates with it. Suitable means may be provided, if desired, to agitate and break up solidly packed dust.

The bottom ring 54 is provided with a feed opening 66, and disposed within the opening is a gate member. 10. The latter ismounted for pivotal movement toward and away from a position closing the feed opening 66, and to this end the gate is formed with an aperture to receive a pivot pin 1|. The pin 1 I is inserted through an apertured lug 12 which is formed on the bottom ring .The mechanism for driving the feed plate 64 l consists of a gear 90 which meshes with gear 63 and is fixedl in any suitable manner to a shaft 9| journaled in fore and aft spaced bearing portions 92 of the base casting 52. Fixed tothe rear end of the shaft 9| is a sprocket 93 around which is trained a, drive chain 94. The chain 94 is also trained around a second sprocket 95 fixed to the rear end of a fore and aft extending shaft 96 which is journaled in bearings 91 and 90 mounted on frame cross-members 31 and 35, respectively.

' The'shaft 96 is driven from a power take-olf shaft 54 and extends radially inwardly therefrom. The

' gate 10 is formed with an outwardly disposed flange or arm 13 which is apertured and receives the downturned end 14 of a push rod 15. The opposite end of the push rod extends through an apertured lug 16 which is formed integral with the bottom ring 54 and extends outwardly therefrom. Axial, or lengthwise movement of the push rod 15 causes the gate 10 to pivot about the pin 1| as an axis, thereby moving the free end of the gate away from or toward the corresponding end of the opening to open Vor close the same. The rate of flow'of material from the hopper through the feed opening 66 is governed by the extent that the gate is opened, and this is regulated by means of a nut 11-which is threaded on the end of the push rod and engages the lug 16 to limit the movement of the rod in the gate-opening direction. A compression spring 80 embraces the push rod 15 and bears at one end against the lug 16 and at theother end against a washer 8| fixed to the rod,

to urge the gate 10 to open position.

'Ihe gate 10 can be closed to stop the ow of material through the feed opening by means of a lever 82 which is pivoted at 83 to a bracket 84 that is welded to the platform member 45. A con'-` necting link 85 is fastened at one end by a bolt 86 to the lever 82, and is apertured at the other end to receive the downturned end 14 of the push rod 15 projecting below the ange 13. 'I'he link 85 is twisted at its midpoint to provide a vertical portion 81 to lie at against the side of the lever 82, and a horizontal portion 88 to lie atv lis a drive belt H6.

|00 projecting rearwardly from Athe gear housing of the tractor I5 through the agency of a V`belt |0| trained around pulleys |02 and |03 xed to the shafts |00 and 86, respectively. In order that the feed plate 64 may be driven at a suitably slow speed from the relatively high speed power takeol shaft |00, the pulley |02 is made with a smaller diameter than pulley |03, sprocket has a smaller diameter than sprocket 93, and gear 00 has less teeth than gear 63, each of which relations causes a reduction of rotational speed.

Material that has passed through the feed gate opening 66 drops down a chute |04 formed integral with the base casting 52 in'to the intake opening |05 of the blower fan 25. The blower 25 comprises a generally circular housing |06 disposedV transversely of the frame 24 and having a pair of laterally spaced supporting legs |01, only one of which is shown in Figures '1 and 8. The legs |01 extend across and are lbolted to the cross angle irons 35 and 36 by bolts |08 which pass through transversely disposed slots ||0 inl the horizontal flanges of the angle irons. The purpose ofthe slots ||0 is to allow the fan housing |06 to be shifted laterally to adjust the tension of the fan driving belt. Journaled within a bearing portion of the housing |06 is a shaft ||2 on the inner end-of which is mounted a spider 3 carrying blades H4. A pulley l5 is mounted on the outer end of the shaft l2, and trained around the pulley The lower end of the belt ||6 is trained around a pulleyA ||1 of-large diameter fixed to the power take-01T shaft |00 aheadv of the small pulley |02, or'the two pulleys |02 and ||1 may be joined together in one piece to form a double pulley.

Extending laterally to the left from the bottom of the housing |06 is the exhaust port |20 through which the dust and air from the fan pass. A right angle elbow pipe |2| is swivel-connected to the port |20 for vertical swinging about a transverse axis, and extends rearwardly substantially at the longitudinal center-line of the tractor. The conduit system 3| for. conveying the dust-laden air from the fan 25 to the nozzle pipes 32 includes a fore and aft extending duct |22 having a telescopic connection at its front end with the elbow pipe IZI, and a T-unlion |23 xed to its rear end. The T-union |23v has a downwardly extending flange or bracket portion |24 (Figure 2) which lies against an angle iron cross'member |25 of the secondary frame 30 and is secured thereto by bolts |26.

The bolts |26 pass through transversely extending slots |21 in the vertical ange of the member |25 which allow the union |23 and duct |22 to be shifted latverally with the blower fan housing |06.

versely disposed shaft |32 which is journaled in a pair of brackets |33 and |34 xed to the main frame members 33 and 34, respectively. The shaft |32 is disposed ahead of the blower housing |06 and as closely adJaccnt thereto as possible so as to minimize axia1 movement of the pipe |22 relative to the elbow |2| when the frame is swung up or down. Such relative movement is due to the fact that the T-union |23, being iixed to the frame^30, travels in an arcuate path about the axis of the shaft |32 as a center, while the duct |22.and elbow |2| swing about the axis of the exhaust port |20 vas a center. The telescopic connection between the pipe |22 and e1- bow |2| accommodates this relative movement.

The secondary frame 3l and conduit system carried thereby are rocked between the lowered position, shown in solid lines in Figure 3, -and the raised position, shown in broken lines, by' means of a hand lever which is welded to the shaft |32 adjacent the left end thereof and extends upwardly to a point within convenient reach of the operator seated on the tractor seat |36. The lever |35 is held in adjusted position by a notched sector |31 xed to the main frame member 33 in anysuitable manner, whichis engaged by a gripframe members |30, |3| in foreand Aaft alignment. ',The' pivot pins |62 are positioned substantially at-the midpoint or the associated ilexible boot |41"to minimize distortionfof the latter when the Outrigger is swung upktothe raised position, as shown in Figure 3. Byloosening bolts |6| to relax the grip of the clamps |51 von rthe pipe |50", the latter can be turnedinvthe clamps or moved axially relative thereto to. adjust the positions of the nozzle pipes 32. ',Ihe boot 41 is merely clamped to the Outrigger pipe by any suitable vclamps (not shown) and can, therefore, be adjusted to accommodate any such movement of the Outrigger relative to its supporting cradle.

release latch on the lever. A pair of counterbalancing springs |4| and |42 are connected `by means of links |43 to brackets |33, |34, respec tively, at points well above the axis of the shaft |32, and are fastened to the cross member |25 of the secondary frame by bolts |44. The counterbalancing springs |4I, |42, being connected to the main frame above the axis of swinging movement, are stressed in tension by the weight of the secondary frame 30 and act to support a portionof the load to expedite raising and lowering the frame with the hand lever |35.

The portion of the conduit system 3| mounted on the rear of the secondary frame 30 transverse to the direction of forward travel is designated in its entirety as the distributor pipe, andv consists of a central portion |45 and two Outrigger portions |46 connected to the laterally outer ends thereof by flexible boots |41 of fabric, rubber, or other suitable material. Both the central portion |45 and Outrigger portions |46 of the distributor pipe are made up` of short lengths of pipe |50 rigidly joined together by unions |5| to form a continuous pipe of 'gradually outwardly diminishing diameter. Each ofthe unions |5| is formed with a rearwardly extendingbranch |52 to which one of the nozzle pipes 32 is connected. lThe two inner pipes of the central portion |45 are telescopically connected with the 'opposite ports of the T-union |23 to accommodate the lateral movement of the same, and are further supported by means of brackets |53 which embrace the pipes and are bolted to the frame cross member |25.

Each of the Outrigger portions |46 is supported on a vertically 'swingable cradle or frame |54 comprising a pair of fore and aft spaced, transversely extending bars |55, |56 disposed on opposite sides of the inner pipe |50". The bars I 55, |56 are welded to a pair of laterally spaced clamps |61 in the form of-straps embracing the pipe |50".A The ends of the straps are bent downwardly beneath the pipe |50" to form a pair of adjacent ears- |60 which are apertured to receive a bolt |6| vfor tightening the clamp about the pipe. The bars |55, |56 extend inwardly toward the central portion |46 of the vdistributor pipe and downwardly, and are aperturedat their ends to receive pivot plus |62 which are fixed to the The outriggers |46are supported against sagging under their own weight by rods I 63, each of which is suitably fastened at its outer end to the Outrigger pipe and at its inner end is hooked through an aperture in an upright lever arm |64 welded to the cradle bar |55. The outriggers are raised and lowered by lifting mechanism which will be described in detail presently, and said lifting mechanism is assisted by a pair of counterbalancing tension springs |65anchored to brackets l||6 fixed to the frame cross bar |25 near the midpoint thereof. The springs |65 are hooked through links |61 which are apertured to receive the forwardly turned ends of the rods |63 in front of the bars- |64.

The Outrigger lifting mechanism consists of a crank in the form of a sheave wheel |10 journaled on the frame cross bar |25 for rotation about a fore and aft extending axis |69, Pivotally connected to the sheave wheel at axially spaced points thereon are connectingl rods |1|,

the outer ends of which pass through the eyes ofeyebolts |12 pivoted to the lever arms 64. Each of the connecting rods |1| has a pair of nuts |18 threaded on the outer end thereof on opposite sides -of the eyebolt |12, by means of which the eyebolt can be adjusted along the connecting rod to raise or lower the outer end of the Outrigger when in lowered position. When the sheave wheel crank is rotated, the connecting rods pull the leverarms |64 in toward the center,

thereby swinging the outriggers up to raised poprising a cable|13 which is fastened to and is trained around the sheave wheel. The cable |13 passes around a pulley |14 journaled on the frame member |25 substantially in line with the right edge of the main frame 24, and extends forwardly therefrom, passing under another pulley |15 journaled on the frame member |3| The front end of the cable |13 is fastened to the upper end of an arm |16 (Figure 3) which is welded or otherwise fixed to the outer end of a transverse shaft |11 journaled in brackets |80 fixed to the frame cross member 35. A hand lever 8| is fixed to the inner end of the shaft |11 and extends up- Y wardly therefrom toa point within convenient reach of the operator seated on the tractor seat |36. T0 raise the outriggers, the operator pushes the lever |6| forwardly, rocking the shaft |11 in a clockwise direction (Figure 3) and pulling the cable |13 forwardly. As the cable is pulled forwardly it is unreeled from the sheave wheel |10,

causing the latter to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction (Figure 2) and cranking the outriggers up-tol thel raised position; The outriggers can be held in any position of raisedadjustment by means of a notched sector |82 which is Xed to the main frame 24 in any suitable manner and which is engaged by a grip-release latch |83 on the lever |8|.

The flow of material from the hopper 21 through the feedopening 66 and into the fan intake I is automatically interrupted when the outriggers are raised by means of a linkage arrangement between the llever |8| and the feed gate which will now be described. A rod |84 has its front end bent laterally outwardly at |85 and inserted through an aperture in the outrigger lifting lever IBI, being secured therein by a cotter pin |85 (see Figure l0). The rear end of the rod |84 is turned downwardly at |81 and is inserted through an aperture in a lever arm |90 fixed to the lower end'of a vertically disposed shaft |9| whichfis journaled in bearing brackets |92 and |93 bolted to members 36 and45, respectively. 4Fixed to the upper end of the shaft |9| isy a forwardly extending lever arm |94 which passes through a slot E95 in the vertical portion 81 of the link 85. When the lever |8| is in its rearwardmost position, i. e., when the outriggers are down, and when the feed gate 10 is in its normal open position, the lever arm |94 isvdisposed in the end of the sloi-l |95 nearest the connection of the link 85 with the feed gate flange 13. The' slot |95'thus provides a lost motion connection between the lever arm |94 and the link 85, and enables the gate 10 to be closed by the lever 82 without interfering with the lever arm |94. When the outriggers |86 are raised by moving the lever |8I forwardly, however, the'shaft |9| is rotated in per'21 into the blower 25 is automatically cut off when the outriggers are raised, and is resumed again when they are lowered to operative position.

,The nozzle pipes 32 are preferably made of exible metal tubing |96 of well known spiral wound construction. One end of the tubing is inserted into the rearwardly extending branch |52 of the union |5| and is secured therein in any suitable manner. The other end of the tubing is inserted into a sh-tall pipe |91 which serves to discharge thedust-laden air in a broad ribbon-like stream over the row of crop. The discharge end of the nozzle pipe is supported in adjusted position by means of a rod 200 which is heldj at one 'end by a mounting bracket 20| on the distributing pipe |50 and has a holder 202 at the lill other end thereof fixed to the fish-tail pipe |91.

The mounting bracket 20| consists of a metal A strap which is wrapped around the pipe |50, the

ends of said strap being bent rearwardly at'the back'of the pipe to form a pair of adjacent ears 203. The ears are apertured to receive a clampin Figure 4, or turned on the pipe, as shown in Figure 5, and the rod 200 is free to accommodate itself to the new position.l The holder 202 is likewise a metal strap which is wrapped around the rod 200 and is secured' to the fish-tail pipe by a bolt 206 passing through the apertured ends of the strap and threaded into the pipe |91. The

holder 2021s slidable along therod 200 and rotatable thereon when the bolt 206 is loosened, and is also rotatable aboutthe axis of the bolt.

It is believed that the operation of our improved crop duster and the advantageous features thereof will be clearly understood from the foregoing description, and -what we claim as our invention is l. A crop duster comprising a frame having blower and feeding mechanism mounted thereon, conduit means connected with said blower and including a distributing pipe supported on said frame transverse to the line o f forward travel, av

plurality of flexible nozzle pipes connected with said distributing pipe at axially spaced points thereon, .and adjustable means for supporting the discharge ends of said nozzle pipes, said meanscomprising a plurality of rods disposedv one to each of said nozzle pipes, each of said rods having a mounting bracket at one end thereof clamped to said distributing pipe and a holder at the other end fixed to the associated nozzle pipe, means accommodating rotation of the rod relative to the mounting bracket about an axis extending generally transversely of the distributing pipe for adjustably securing each rod to the associated mounting bracket, each of said holders being rotatable relative to the associated nozzle about an axis extending. generally transversely thereof and shiftable generally longitudinally of the associated rod, said mounting bracket being /shiftable axially along said distributing pipe so as to change the lateral position of the end of the associated nozzle pipe and rotatable-relative thereto so as to swing the end of the associated nozzle pipe generally in a vertical direction about the axis of said distributing pipe.

2. A crop duster comprising a main frame having blower and feeding mechanism mounted thereon, a second frame pivoted on saidma'in frame for vertical swinging movement, a duct carried on said second frame and movable vertically therewith, conduit means connecting one end of said duct with said blower and providing for relativemovement' therebetween, a distributing pipe extending laterally from the other end of said duct and connected therewith by means including a exible hose, a support pivoted on said second frame for vertical swinging movement about an axis adjacent said flexible hose, said distributing pipe being mounted on said support by means providing for rotation and axial movement of the pipe relative thereto, a plurality of flexible nozzle pipes connected with said distributing pipe at axially spaced points thereon, and means for supporting the discharge ends of said nozzle .pipes in adjusted position, said means comprising a plurality of brackets clamped to said distributing pipe and movable ingl bolt 284,- and the latter is passed-through a loop 295 formed in the end of the rod 200, Thus, when the 'polt 204 is tightened, the strap is clamped tightly about the pipe |50 and the rod V2li!! is clamped tightly t0 the ears-203 of the strap.

By loosening the bolt 2'04, however, the strap 20| can be moved axially along the pipe |50, as shown relative thereto in an axial direction and about the axis thereof, each of said brackets being positioned adjacent one of the nozzle pipes and each bracket having .a rod associated therewith, said A rod being swingable laterally with respect to the bracket, means for xedly securing the rod to 'the bracket in adjusted position, and a holder with the sheave wheel at angularly spaced pointsv 3. crop duster comprising a mobile vsupporting frame, :a distributing. pipe'mounted on said frame transverse to the direction of forward travel, a drive .shaft'having Aa belt pulley fixed thereto, a fan blower mounted on the frame with the'fan shaft parallel to said drive shaft and spaced radially therefrom, a belt pulley xed on the fan shaft, a driving belt trained varound said pulleysa duct connected at one end with said blower and. havinga, union at the 1 other end thereof telescopically connected withA said distributing pipe, and means whereby the blower and the associated duct and unionmay be shifted relative to said frame in a direction perpendicular to the axis of said drive shaft to adj: :t the tension of the drivingbelt, said distributing pipe telescopingwithin the union to accommodate the movement of the latter relative tothe pipe.

4.k A crop-duster comprising a main frame, 'a second frame pivotally connected with said main frame for vertical swinging about a transverse axis, a'transversely arranged distributing pipe mounted kon said second frame and movable ver-- tically therewith,v a blower having a fan shaft, a drive shaft, belt p'ulleys fixed to'the drive\shaft and fan shaft, respectively, a driving belt trained around said pulleys, a ductconnected at one end with saidblower- .by means providing for relative swinging movement therebetween, a union at the yother end of saidv duct providing a telescopic conviding `for'shifti'ng of the union relative thereto in said direction, 'said distributing pipe telescoping within the union to accommodate the movement of the latter relative tothe pipe;

ing frame having blower and feeder mechanism mounted thereon, supporting means pivo-ted on 5. A crop dusterl comprising a mobile support said frame for'vertical swinging movement in a transverse verticallplane, a transversely extendwhereby the vlatter and distributing pipe arey swung upwardly when the sheave wheel is turned, and means for exerting a pull on the cable to rotate the sheave wheel.

6. A crop duster comprising a main frame hav-v ing blower and feeding mechanism mounted thereon, a second frame pivoted on said main frame for vertical swinging movement. a duct carried on said second frame and movable vertically therewith, conduit means connecting one end of said duct with'said blower and providing for-.relative movement therebetween, a pair of opposed laterally extending distributing pipes, each of saidpipes being mounted on said second frame for vertical swinging movement therewith,`

means connecting said distributing pipes with said duct providing for relative movement therebetween, a sheave wheel journaled on said second frame, a cable fixed to and trained around said sheave wheel, a pair of links pivotally connected 'I5 thereon, each of said links being connected with the associated distributing pipe whereby the latter is swung upwardly to transport position when the sheave wheel is rotated, said links assuming positions substantially at dead-center with respect to the axis of the sheave wheel when the distributing pipes aredown'in operative position whereby the pipes are prevented from oscillating up and down as the implement travels over rough ground, and means for exerting a pull on said cable to rotate the sheave wheel.

'7. A crop duster comprising a. supporting frame having a blower mounted thereon, conduit means connected with said blower and including a distributing pipe mounted on the frame for relative vertical movement, lifting means for raising and lowering said distributing pipe, a feed hopper vmounted on'said frame and having a discharge opening communicating with said conduit means,

a gate movable between an open position permitting material to flow through said discharge opening and a closed position blocking the opening, and means including lost motion means controlled by said lifting means for moving said gate to closed position when said distributing pipe is raised, said lost motion means accommodating the movement of said gate to one position independent of the position of said distributing DIDE- 8. An agriculturalmachine comprising a sup-1 porting frame, conduit means carried on said frame including a distributing pipe adapted for vertical movement relative to the frame about an axis, said conduit means including vertically swingable Outrigger sections movable in any position of said distributing pipe, elevating means for raising and lowering said distributing pipe, means including a member mounted on said frame adjacent said axisfor shifting said Outrigger sections, a feed hopper mounted on said frame and having a discharge opening communicating with said conduit means, a gate mounted for movement between an open position permitting material in the hopper to iiow through said discharge opening and a closed position blocking the opening, and means connected with said gate and with said member for moving vsaid gate to closedv position .when the Outrigger sections are raised.

9. An agricultural machine comprising a supporting frame, conduit means carried on said frame including a distributing pipe adapted for vertical movement relative to the frame, elevating means for raising and lowering said distributing pipe, a feed hopper mounted on said frame andhaving a discharge opening communicating with said conduit means, a gate mounted for movement between an open position permitting material in the hopper to fiow through said discharge opening and a closed position blocking the opening, manually operable control means connectedA with said gate and extending to a point adjacent the operatorfs station for opening and closing the gate, and additional control means operable to close the gate when the distributing pipe is raised and to open the gate when vthe distributing pipe is lowered.

. 10. A crop duster comprising a hopper, a movable gate controlling the ow of material therefrom, a blower adapted to receive material, a laterally extending nozzle unit receiving the discharge from said blower and including a generally upwardly movable section adapted to bevmoved about an axis into a number of operating positions and about another axis into an inoperative position, means for moving said section about said rst axis into dilerent' operating positions, andl means connected between said nozzle section and said movable gate and including a part extending adjacent said first axis whereby when said section is moved about said rst axis said gate remains in open position but, is moved into its means receiving the discharge from said blower, means for raising said distributing means to transport position, means controlled concomitantly with said raising means for closing said gate whenever said distributing means is moved into its transport position, and means for closingsaid gate independently of the position of said distributing means.

12. A crop duster comprising a main frame, a blower and material feeding mechanism mounted on said main frame, supporting means pivoted to said main frame for' movement relative thereto about an axis, conduit means. on said pivoted supporting means andI iiexibly connected to receive material from the blower on said main frame, said conduit means including a central section and an outer swingable section, and means for swinging the latter in any position of said pivoted supporting means comprising a part passing close to the axis of pivotal connection of said supporting means.

13. A crop duster comprising a main frame, a

` blowerand material feeding mechanism mounted on said main frame, supporting means pivoted to said main frame for movement relative thereto about an axis, conduit means on said pivoted supon said supporting means for swinging said second conduit section, means on said main frame ,for actuating said swinging means, and means connecting said actuating means with said swinging means including a sheave supported adjacent said axis and a cable trained over said sheave.

14. A crop duster comprising means serving as a main frame, supporting. frame means adapted to be pivoted at its front end to said main frame means forward of the rear end of the latter, ma-

terial distributing means carried by said supporting frame means and including a central conduit and means for supplying material thereto, a material container and blower carried by said main frame generally rearwardly of the pivot axis of blower` adapted to receive material, distributing f means, material distributing means carried by said supporting lframe means and including a central conduit and means for supplying material thereto, said frame means including a transverse framebar .and a pair `of generaly longitudinally extending frame bars xed to said transverse frame bar and extending rearwardly of the latter, a pair of brackets hxed to said transverse frame bar for supporting said central conduit in a position generally upwardly and rearwardly of said transverse frame bar, a pair of verticaly swingable conduit sectionsconnec'ted with the ends of said central conduit, a pair of parts xed at opposite vsil-les to each of said swingable conduit sections, and pivot bracket means fixed to each of the rearward extensions of said longitudinally extending frame bars and pivotally receiving the pair of parts connected to the associated swingable conduit section.

said supporting frame means, saidv blower being connected with said material supplying means adjacent said axis, said supporting frame-means including a transverse frame bar normally disposed rearwardly of said main frame means and a pair of generaly longitudinally extending frame bars fixed to said transverse framebar and extending rearwardly of the latter, means connecting the front ends of said longitudinally extendlongitudinally extending frame bars rearwardly of said transverse bar.

1 5. A crop duster comprising supporting frame 16. A crop duster comprisingsupporting frame means, material distributing means carried by said supporting frame means and including a centra] conduit and means for supplying material thereto, said frame means including a transverse frame bar and a pair of generally longitudinally extending frame bars xed to said transverse frame bar, a pair of brackets fixed to said transverse frame bar for supporting said central conduit, a pair of vertically swingable conduit sections connected with the ends of said central conduit, a pair of parts flxed at opposite sides to each of said swingable conduit sections, pivot bracket means iixed to the rear end portions of said longitudinally extending frame bars and pivotally receiving the pair of parts connected to the associated swingable conduit section, an arm fixed to one part of each of said pairs of parts, and means connected with said arms for swinging said conduit sections.

17. A crop duster comprising supporting frame means, material distributing -means carried by said supporting frame means and including a central conduit and means for supplying material thereto, said frame means including a transverse frame bar and a pair of generally longitudinally extending frame bars fixed to said transverse frame bar, a pair of brackets xed to said trans- 4 verse frame bar for supporting said central conduit, a pair of vertically swingable conduit sections connected with the ends of Isaid central conduit, a pair of parts fixed at Opposite sides to each of said swingable conduit sections, pivot bracket means fixed to the rear end portions of said longitudinally extending frame bars and pivotally receiving the pair of parts connected to the associated swingable conduit section, an arm fixed to one part of each of said pairs of parts, an operating ymember mounted onthe central part of said transverse frame member, and means connectingsaid operating member with said arms for swinging said conduit sections.

' 18. In a crop duster o`r the like, vmaterial distributing conduit means comprising a central section and outer, sections, .each pivotally connected with the central section for generally vertical movement relative thereto about an axis, a rotatable member having arm portions, links connectingsaid arm portions with said pivoted conduit sections, said arm portions and links being `arranged in substantially straight line relation so as to lockv said pivoted conduit vsections in one position, and'means for rotating said rotatable memberso as to swing said pivoted conduit sections into other positions.

19. In a crop duster or the like, supporting said support.

means, material distributing conduit means comprising a central conduit section carried by said supporting means and outer sections, each pivotally connected with the central section for generally vertical movement relative thereto about an axis, a rotatable member mounted on said supporting means and having arm portions, links connecting said arm portions with said pivoted conduit sections, said arm portions and links being arranged in substantially straight line relation so as to lock said pivoted conduit sections in extended position, and means on `said supporting means for rotating said rotatable member so as to swing said pivoted conduit sections into their raised position. I I

20. In a crop duster, supporting means, a pair of conduit pipes carriedthereby, va T-connection telescopically associated `with the adjacent ends of said conduit pipes and mounted for movement on said supporting means generally in a direction -longitudinally of said conduit pipes, a material feeding and blower unit mounted on said supporting means for movement relative thereto in said direction, and means connecting said T-connection with said materialfceding and blower unit for movement therewith. y

21. A crop duster comprising a main frame, a second frame pivotally connected with said main frame for movement about an axis, a distributing pipe mounted on said second frame and mov- 1 able therewith, avblower having a discharge port extending adjacent and generally parallel to said axis, an elbow swivel-connected to said port for swinging about the axis of the latter, and a conduit supplying. material to said distributing pipe having a telescopic connection with said elbow and carried by said second frame and movable with the latter about said rst-named axis.

22. Dusting apparatus comprising supporting' means, a distributing pipe mounted thereon, a blower mounted on said frame means for movement relative thereto, drive means for said blower arranged to be adjusted by movement of said blower relative to said frame, and a `duct connected at one end with said blower and having a union at the other end-thereof telescopically connected with said distributing pipe, and blower and associated duct and um'on being shiftable relative to 4said frame in a direction generally parallel to said distributing 'pipe to adjust said drive means.

23. Dusting aparatus as set forth' in claim 22`, n

further characterized by said distributing pipe comprising two sections and said union being disposed generally between and telescopically assoincluding a exible hose, a support pivoted on said second frame for vertical swinging movement about an axis adjacent said ilexible hose, vand means providing for rotation and axial move- Ament of the distributing piperelative. to said support for mounting'said distributing pipe on 25. In a crop lduster or the like, Amaterial distributing conduit means comprising a. central section and outer sections-each pivotally connected with the central section for generally vertical movement relative thereto 'about anaxis, a shiftable member for raising and lowering said outer sections, and means actuated by movement of said shiftable member into a given position for iocking said pivoted conduit sections in lowered position.

26. A crop duster comprising supporting frame means, material distributing means can'ied by said supporting frame means and including a. central conduit and means for suplying material thereto, said frame means including a transverse frame bar and a pair of generally longitudinally extending frame bars, a pair of brackets iixed to said transverse frame bar for supporting said central conduit in a position generally upwardly and rearwardly of said transverse frameA bar, a pair of Vvertically swingable conduit sections connected with the ends of sa'id central conduit, a pair of parts iix'ed at opposite sides to each of said swingable conduit sections, and pivot bracket means fixed to each of said longitudinally extending frame bars and pivotally receiving the pair of parts connected to the associated swingable conduit section.

27. A crop duster comprising supporting frame means, materialV distributing means carried by.

said suporting frame means and including a central conduit and means for supplyingmaterial transverse frame bar, a pair of vertically swingable conduit sections connected with the ends of said central conduit, a pair of parts iixed at oppo- L site sides to each of said swingable conduit sec.- tions, means providing for rotating said swingable conduit sections about their longitudinal axes relative to said parts, nozzles carried by said sections and adapted to extend downwardly in 'rear of said transverse frame' bar, and pivot` bracket means fixed to each :of the rearward' extensions of said longitudinally extendingA frame `bars `and pivotally receiving the pair of parts connected to the associated swingable 'conduit section. j A

28. A crop dustercomprising a main frame, a second frame pivotally connected with said main frame for movement about an axis, a distributing pipe mounted on said second frame generally parallel to and spaced rearwardly from said axis and movable with said frame, a blower having a, discharge port extending adjacent and generally parallel to said axis, a conduit iitting swivel-connected to said port'for swinging about the axis of the latter, a conduit for receiving material -from said tting and extending generally rearwardly vfrom said blower toward said distributing pipe, and a fitting connecting'the rear endiof'said conduit with said distributing pipe, said conduit 'having a telesccping connection with at least one of said fittings so as to accommodate movement of said second frame about itsaxis and movement of said conduit about the axis of said vblower discharge port,

29. A crop duster comprising a main frame, a. second frame pivotally connected with said main frame for movement about an axis, a distributing pipe mounted on said second frame generally parallel to and spaced rearwardly from said axis and movable with ,said frame, a' blower having a discharge port, means supporting said blower on said main frame with said discharge port extending adjacent and generally parallel to said axis, a conduit tting swivel-connected to said 'port for swinging about the axis of the latter, a

conduit connected at its front end to said conduit tting and extending toward said distributing pipe, and a tting connecting theA rear end of Asaid conduit with said distributing pipe, said conduit having a telescoping connection with one of said nttings so as to accommodate movement of said second frame about its axis and movement of said conduit about the axis of said blower discharge port.

CLARENCE T. RASMUSSEN. ROBERT D. GRIFF. 

